News

SubOrbital Express-5 to launch 12 experiments to space

May 4, 2026

On 28 May, the launch window opens for one of the most anticipated sounding rocket launches of SSC Space. After years of planning and preparation, SubOrbital Express-5 will take off from Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden, providing access to space for twelve advanced scientific projects from organizations in nine countries, and enabling researchers to study physical, biological, and medical processes under conditions not possible on Earth.

The onboard payload consists of four scientific experiment modules. The three main modules contain research on metal science, fluids for medicine, and human bloodstream behavior for biology insights. A fourth “rideshare module” gives another nine projects a ticket to space. This shared space will provide research opportunities related to human immune cells, stem cells, the solidification process of metal alloys, and more.

“We are all very excited about this upcoming launch. On countless occasions, we have seen that a few minutes of microgravity in space can make a huge difference in taking a research project to the next level. The SubOrbital Express program really is one of the leading services in the world to provide scientists with invaluable access to space for their science projects,” says Stefan Krämer, Program Manager SubOrbital Express, SSC Space.

SubOrbital Express-5 is the seventeenth in a series of MASER rockets launched from Esrange since this flagship sounding rocket program started in 1987. MASER stands for “Materials Science Experiment Rocket” and the European Space Agency, ESA, is the program’s largest customer, funding several of the experiments onboard.

Contact: Philip Ohlsson, Head of Press & PR, +46 70 721 70 26, philip.ohlsson@sscspace.com

Illustration of the Suborbital Express-5 sounding rocket and its payload

GENERAL INFORMATION

Location	Esrange Space Center, Northern Sweden, Lat 67.88, Long 21.07
Launch Site	The Skylark Tower
Campaign period	19 May - 7 June
Launch period	28 May - 7 June
Rocket type	RedKite two-stage RK-RK launcher by Bayern Chemie
Number of payloads	Twelve (12)
Rocket length	13 meters (43 ft)
Total mass	1,346 kg
Payload mass	431 kg
Apogee	260 km
Campaign partners	SSC Space, DLR MORABA, ESA, and participating science teams.
Program Manager	Stefan Krämer, SSC Space
Campaign Manager	Maximilian Speier, SSC Space

The experiments in the three main modules:

XRMON Mg-μg

This material science experiment will use a micro-focus X-ray source for in-situ and time-resolved radiography (radioscopy) of metal-alloy samples under microgravity.

By imaging crystal formation and melt/composition changes as they occur, the experiment aims to quantify how reduced gravity alters solidification pathways and resulting microstructure.

The results will help guide the design of lightweight magnesium alloys for transport and biocompatible, bioresorbable Mg–Zn materials, and serve as a step toward similar studies on crewed platforms such as the ISS.

The project is run by University College Dublin, Ireland.

KRABS

This biomedicine experiment will investigate the behavior of human blood cells in microgravity.

In microgravity, blood samples will be injected through microfluidic channels while monitoring the resulting flow with pressure/flow sensors and high-resolution optical diagnostics (bright-field microscopy, digital holography, and light scattering).

By running defined injection sequences at low and high hematocrit, it will capture synchronized video and sensor data—downlinked for live monitoring and stored onboard—to study red blood cell aggregation, structure, and rheology.

The project is run by The French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), University of Grenoble Alpes (UGA), Grenoble, France.

Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (Unsplash)

IMEDYS

This experiment will investigate how human umbilical vein endothelial cells – key cells lining blood vessels – adapt to altered gravity.

During microgravity, the cells will be cultured at 37°C in microfluidic “culture chips” under biomimetic perfusion (shear stress), then exposed to a short hyper-gravity phase followed by microgravity. Samples will be chemically fixed at defined timepoints (pre-launch, post-hyper-g, and end of μg) for post-flight analysis.

The experiment aims to quantify gravity-driven changes in cell morphology and mechanobiology, focusing on actin cytoskeleton organization, cell-substrate and cell-cell adhesion (focal adhesions/adherens junctions), and the glycocalyx involved in mecha-notransduction.

The project is run by the University of Grenoble, France.

The experiments in the Shared Module:

SATypus ONE

This experiment will use two Kromek gamma-ray spectrometers to explore means to improve the radiation absorption/shielding ability of modified basalt fiber composite samples which could be used as a means to create lunar housing using mostly in situ lunar materials for more premiant human residence.

The project is run by QUT Aerospace Society, Brisbane, Australia.

CARISPACE

This experiment will investigate how microgravity modulates genome architecture and regulatory activity in human immune cells, aiming to determine whether such responses reflect reversible adaptation to sustained weightlessness or instead promote persistent, potentially detrimental alterations relevant to astronaut health during long-duration missions.

The project is run by The Ministry of Education of St. Kitts and Nevis, in collaboration with Space Hub Universität Zürich (UZH Space Hub), Switzerland.

AURORE-III

This experiment consists of an enclosed box with a camera, a screen, a microphone, accelerometers, pressure sensors and temperature sensors. The goal is to film the three sample bays also in the box, while sending sensor data with variable bandwidth based on what is available to us to a ground station, showing the effects of 0g.

The project is run by members of the Swedish Astronomical Youth Association (Astronomisk Ungdom).

SMAUG

This experiment will solidify deeply undercooled Al-Ge alloy samples in microgravity using a flux-based, crucible furnace. By removing buoyancy-driven convection and suppressing oxide- and wall-induced nucleation, the experiment aims to achieve rapid, 3D dendritic growth at high undercooling. Recovered samples from four alloy compositions will be analyzed to determine how alloy composition controls the dendrite orientation transition (DOT) and resulting microstructure under fast-solidification conditions.

The project is run by the Institute for Frontier Materials on Earth and in Space, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany.

GEN-1P

This experiment will fly the GEN-1 capsule (5.9 cm diameter) to support microgravity research and validate key reentry subsystems. The flight carries two active payloads: the GEN-1P rideshare module, using 25 near-infrared sensors to track microorganisms’ metabolic activity and stress responses in real time, and the GEN-2P insect habitat hosting fruit flies (Drosophila) to study biological effects of microgravity. A GEN-3P passive sample holder adds capacity for materials samples. After hypersonic reentry, the capsule is planned for recovery to enable post-flight analysis.

The project is run by Genesis Space Flight Laboratories, Čakovec, Croatia.

YES

This experiment will expose yeast to μ-g conditions before utilization in the fermentation process of water based beverage production.

The project is run by Hochschule Luzern, Switzerland.

SPARK-01

This mission marks SPARK Microgravity’s first oncology-focused biological payload in a real microgravity environment. The experiment will validate a sealed, end-to-end workflow for preparing, integrating, operating, and recovering cancer biology samples under flight conditions.

For SPARK Microgravity, the mission is a critical milestone toward a broader program of oncology research in microgravity and an important validation step for its autonomous biological experimentation platform.

The project is run by Munich-based space-biotech company SPARK Microgravity.

OneSpace-II

This payload will send a number of promotional items into microgravity.

The project is run by 1[ONE]Space Concierge 宇宙.

SpaceGinger-01

This experiment will investigate how microgravity affects samples of red hair taken from a famous Swedish influencer.

The project is run by Mauri "Mustiga Mauri" Hermundsson.

Panel: Defense, security and space

15:05 May 8, 2026

Defense, security, space, and international collaboration took center stage as Europe’s future competitiveness was discussed at the 75th Annual Meeting of the German‑Swedish Chamber of Commerce, held at the Stockholm School of Economics. The event brought together leaders from industry, ...

SSC Space and Kuva Space sign LOI to strengthen Nordic space capabilities

09:04 April 22, 2026

The Letter of Intent sets the stage for potential cooperation across key areas of space infrastructure, mission development, and security-related capabilities. SSC Space, a leading global provider of advanced space services in ground segment, mission operations, science and launch, and ...

SSC Space and Cambrian Space & Defence sign contract at IAC 2025 in Sydney.

SSC Space to unlock microgravity research in Australasia

14:04 April 15, 2026

SSC Space partners with Cambrian Defence & Space to deliver a fully integrated, end-to-end pathway for microgravity research and flight missions across Australasia. Under the contract agreement, the two companies will establish a dedicated, commercially driven gateway for Australasia to ...

Robert Burning, CFO to leave SSC Space

13:04 April 13, 2026

Robert Burning, CFO and member of the Executive Committee, has decided to leave SSC Space to take on a new position outside the company. Robert, who has held the position since the beginning of 2024, will leave SSC Space at ...

NASA's Orion spacecraft on the launchpad, part of the Artemis-II mission to the Moon

SSC Space supports NASA’s Artemis-II lunar mission

16:04 April 1, 2026

NASA’s Artemis II mission will push the boundaries of deep space exploration. And SSC Space is proud to play an important role in this historic project, contributing with critical expertise to ensure accurate navigation and reliable communications throughout the journey. ...

Swedish government invests in satellite launch capability at Esrange

11:03 March 31, 2026

Today, the Swedish government announced increased investments in the space domain – a highly positive step forward for Sweden’s and Europe’s space capabilities. A key highlight is the additional allocation of funding to establish satellite launch capabilities at our Esrange ...

Space view of a rocket leaving the Earth

Call for General Annual Meeting 2026

00:03 March 30, 2026

SSC Space’s Annual General Meeting 2026 will be held on Tuesday, 28 April at the head office in Solna, Sweden....

SSC Space signs agreement with the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) to establish satellite launch capability from Esrange Space Center.

SSC Space signs agreement with FMV on satellite launch capability from Esrange

08:03 March 16, 2026

SSC Space has signed an agreement with the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) to establish satellite launch capability from Esrange Space Center. The contract is valued at SEK 209 million and lays the foundation for a national capability that will ...

Rocket launched with a colorful sky as backdrop

Two REXUS rockets launched from Esrange

13:03 March 12, 2026

Over the course of two days, sounding rockets REXUS-35 and -36 were successfully launched from Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden: The first one on Tuesday 10th of March at 07:02, and the second on Thursday 12th of March at ...

SSC Space Optical Ground Station (OGS) in Santiago, Chile.

SSC Space advances optical comm’s: New ground station in Chile

08:03 March 10, 2026

SSC Space announces a new Optical Ground Station (OGS) ready for operations at its site in Santiago, Chile. This cutting-edge technology, supported by the European Space Agency (ESA), marks a significant leap forward in satellite communications, delivering higher data rates ...